Profiles in Science: Fertility Research

Artificial Sweeteners May Disrupt Body's Blood Sugar Controls

<em>The New York Times</em> reports on bombshell research from Dr. Eran Elinav and Prof. Eran Segal. The two scientists found that gut microbiota can trigger metabolic changes after exposure to artificial sweeteners, potentially leading to obesity and diabetes – conditions that diet drinks and foods with sweeteners are supposed to help us avoid.

Dr. Ron Milo and a team that included U.S. scientists created a tool to analyze the environmental costs of agriculture, with the goal of determining which types of animal-based food one should eat, environmentally speaking. In the most comprehensive study of its kind, they came up with answers both expected and surprising.

Fertility Research at the Weizmann Institute

Reproduction, a basic but complex process, fails for a variety of reasons. Weizmann scientists are studying the causes of infertility, in men and women both, and are seeking ways to overcome those challenges to give humanity a happier, healthier future.

Using Basic Science to Advance Cancer Research

Prof. Moshe Oren has spent decades studying the p53 gene, which plays a key role in keeping healthy cells from turning cancerous. His basic research has inspired other scientists to build on his findings, potentially leading to p53-based cancer treatments. As head of the Moross Integrated Cancer Center, Prof. Oren's knowledge will be more valuable than ever.

Heart Cells Regenerated in Mice

In a heart research breakthrough, Weizmann's Prof. Eldad Tzahor and a team of researchers have induced heart cells in mice to revert to an earlier state when they can be renewed; typically, the heart is unable to heal itself. This important work could lead to powerful new treatments for heart disease.

The recent breakthrough by scientists from the Weizmann Institute and the Victor Chang Institute, where the researchers were able to regrow heart cells in mice, has made headlines around the world. As <em>Medical Daily</em> reports, ""doctors believe they will be able to confirm in as little as five years if the technique works in humans.""

Stress-Coping Mechanism Helps Mice Make New Friends

What makes us reluctant or willing to leave our social comfort zones? Prof. Alon Chen and his team in the Department of Neurobiology found that a molecule that helps the brain cope with stress appeared to act as a ""social switch"" in mice, causing them to either increase interactions with ""friends"" or seek to meet ""strangers."" Since a similar system exists in the human brain, the findings may help explain why some people are better at making new friends, and shed light on the social difficulties experienced by those with autism, schizophrenia, and more.